Winter Diesel

[moojamboo]

Hey all,

This will be my first full winter with my Ford 1710 Diesel. Some have warned that I must start treating my fuel due to low temperatures. Is this legitimate advice? I am in northern Vermont and will have lots of low temperatures, but the tractor and fuel is stored in a garage (non heated).

Should I be plugging in my tractor from thanksgiving to March 1 to keep everything warm? Is that what the plug is for? How much electricity does this take? If yes to plugging in, what do I do with the fuel itself in the 5 gallon container?

I will be doing my own snow removal with loader and blade, so it will be getting use through the season if that makes a difference.

Thanks for advice,

 

[grsthegreat]

the answers for these threads are all over the place here. I live in North Idaho and the gas stations have a winter blend here that they sell. They add kerosene to the mix. I have had diesel rigs here for 16 years, and i have NEVER added anything else to the tanks. Now if i was storing the truck for awhile i might add something, but i drive them all the time.

If i drove a rig from warmer climate into very cold climate i would add something as the fuel i would have probably isnt a winter blend.

This is just my thoughts and 16 years experience.

 

[thatguy]

Starting around November I do add an anti-gell when i purchase fuel

Brian

 

[moojamboo]

hey grsthegreat,

My local sells "Off road diesel" which doesn't have the road tax applied, and what I use for the warmer months. If you had to put a dollar bet either way, do you think they would treat it? I will go and ask next time I am in town.

I have heard about the kerosene..would the same additive that works with a diesel truck work for a diesel tractor? Part of me says that if they DO treat I would be good to go as that is what working trucks would be using, and I wouldn't have to treat it additionally. Am I right in this thinking?

do you plug in you tractor in the winter?

I did a search earlier and some said "definitely treat it", and some said "nah, you don't need to". I thought I would throw it out there and see what the masses said, if there was a consensus.

Happy Saturday,

 

[moojamboo]

hi thatguy,

Do you add anti-gel to non-treated diesel only, or even buying with a "winter mix?"

Will the anti-gell be ok in the 5 gallon jug as well? Do you add it like 2 stroke oil for a chainsaw? I add oil right at the gas station (so I remember) whenever I fill the my 2 stroke container up...same idea?

thank you,

 

[devildog1]

moojam,
I treat my Diesel with the White Bottle of Power Stroke Diesel Treatment, you need to do that where you live. The plug is probably for a block heater that warms up the coolant, plug in about one hour before use, makes the Diesel engine happy to run. Also I have a Battery Tender that keeps my tractors battery up to snuff when starting but with out over charging. You live where it's going to be quite cold, just like upstate N.Y. Better prepared then not right?
DevilDog

 

[dodge man]

I wouldn't leave your tractor plugged in all the time unless you use it a lot. I'm not sure how much electricity they use, but enough I wouldn't leave it plugged in all the time, just a couple of hours before you use it maybe when the temp starts getting near zero.

I add fuel treatment for my tractor only in the winter and use a product called Howse. Its an antigel and I just add the correct amount to my 5 gallon containers and them fill them up.

 

[moojamboo]

hey devildog1,

Upstate NY are probably pretty similar, except you probably get yanks on local tv and I have to watch the red sox . (can you tell I am a transplant?)

Thanks for the advice, I will take a look. Do you add this to "normal" diesel or a winter blend? I am still unclear if doing it to winter blend is overkill or the right idea.

 

[moojamboo]

thanks for the plug info dodge man, I will not leave in all the time. I try not to with the laptop, I will do the same for the tractor!

 

[Don87]

I purchased diesel from my local station last year. Figured it would be treated as the owner fuels his cement mixers at the same pumps (he owns it all)...........my tractor gelled up on me when the temperature got down to 15 degrees.

Several years back, the trucking company I worked for got their own tanks(we had to fuel up there when possible), I asked the delivery guy if the fuel was treated....he said "yes it is".........that weekend my tractor trailer gelled up. Cost the company a lot of money that day.

I'll always treat my own from now on. I put the Power Service in the empty can, then go fill it with diesel.